U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks with media about the events surrounding Brett Kavanaugh confirmation before speaking at the 1st Monday Club of Anderson at Master's Wok in Anderson on Monday, October 1, 2018. Ken Ruinard / staff

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks with media about the events surrounding Brett Kavanaugh confirmation before speaking at the 1st Monday Club of Anderson at Master's Wok in Anderson on Monday, October 1, 2018. Ken Ruinard / staff

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks with media about the events surrounding Brett Kavanaugh confirmation before speaking at the 1st Monday Club of Anderson at Master's Wok in Anderson on Monday, October 1, 2018. Ken Ruinard / staff

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks with media about the events surrounding Brett Kavanaugh confirmation before speaking at the 1st Monday Club of Anderson at Master's Wok in Anderson on Monday, October 1, 2018. Ken Ruinard / staff

WASHINGTON - In a late-night speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham railed against President Donald Trump's decision to pull troops from Syria, calling the decision "disastrous" and a "stain on the honor" of the U.S.

The South Carolina Republican said the president's claim, which Trump included in a video to his Twitter on Wednesday, that the Islamic State had been defeated was "fake news." Graham said he'd just gotten back from a trip to the Middle East and knew for a fact that it was "inaccurate."

Graham, a key ally of Trump, has taken a vocal approach as of late to combat some of the president's decisions, most recently with how the administration handled Saudi Arabia and the regime's role in the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. He was part of a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers who objected to Trump's decision and warned the president that it would lead to disaster and a new wave of Islamic radicalism in the Middle East.

The withdrawal of the more than 2,000 troops is based on Trump’s decision that the mission against ISIS is complete, a U.S. official told USA TODAY. Trump tweeted out a video statement in which he said U.S. "heroes" should be brought home because they have accomplished the mission of defeating ISIS. "Now we've won," Trump said. "It's time to come back ... they're getting ready; you're going to see them soon."

Military leaders, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, in recent weeks and months have spoken of the need for U.S. troops to remain in the eastern part of the country to help stabilize it and allow for peace negotiations to proceed. Graham, speaking on the Senate floor, said he was introducing a resolution that would condemn Trump's decision.

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